Jodi Beth Cross

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Hagar

“Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls, all Your waves and breakers have swept over me.”
Psalm 42:7

I think Hagar is a beautiful example of this scripture. Hagar was the servant of Sarai, Abram’s wife, who got pregnant with his child. In Genesis 16 we read the beginning of her story. At some point into her pregnancy, Sarai became jealous and was mistreating her. Hagar ran away and stopped by a spring in the desert, where an angel found her. They had a convo. I personally would have not liked what he had to say, but whateves, she seems fine. In Genesis 16:13 we read: “She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’” She then goes back and gives birth to Ishmael.

Then a few chapters later, we pick up her story after Isaac, Sarah’s* son, is born. Genesis 21 shares how they were not one big happy family. After a bit, Abraham* sends them away with some food and water. In time, the water ran out and she put Ishmael under a bush and went a “bow shot” (50 yards or about half a football field) away was sobbing. God heard the cries and called out to Hagar, gave her a promise and in verse 19: “Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.”

Both times the “deep” of her pain, her grief, her need called out to the “deep” of God’s grace, God’s peace, God’s provision. He met her physical need but also gave her hope, direction and a purpose. When we call out to God with our deepest hurts, He meets us. Remember we talked about Him being the source we are connected to, and the waterfall…the wave…the overflow of all He is covers us.

“Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls, all Your waves and breakers have swept over me.”
Psalm 42:7

Dean took this in Haiti.

There is something so beautiful and powerful about the imagery David uses. Just take a moment to close your eyes and hear the roar of the waterfall, feel it cover every part of you until you are completely drenched with the goodness of God. All that He is … all that you need, is pouring over you and all you see is Him.

All of Psalm 42 is a song about David encouraging himself, reminding himself and teaching us a great truth about waiting, trusting and hoping in the God that answers us.

Hagar didn’t ask to get pregnant or mistreated. There may be things in your life that you didn’t want to happen. There may be things that happened because of your choices and decisions. Either way you can know, because of Hagar, that you are seen and heard by God. He is moved into action by His compassion for you. That He will meet you where you are at!

“I am the Lord, and I do not change.” Malachi 3:6a

If God does not change and He met Hagar in her deepest need, you can know He will meet you in your deepest need.

Both times God met Hagar, she was in the desert; both times she didn’t know where she was going; both times she gave up. Even in our desert…our driest, dustiest times we can be connected to the Life-Giving source of love and grace.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13

Calling out to God and seeking His truth in the middle of our pain can be hard. We may just want to sit in it a bit. We may be unsure or afraid. God sees us and hears us. Let Hagar’s story help us be brave enough to believe God and call out. If you are in a good spot right now, let’s pray for our friends who are not.

Love you guys! I hope you have an amazing day!
~ Jodi xoxo

*Abram and Sarai’s names were changed by God to Abraham and Sarah. Names are important to God. Don’t let anyone change the name God is calling you … His beloved … His child


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